(Newser)
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Ukraine today announced a ceasefire deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin for eastern Ukraine. Then it quickly walked that statement back, as Russia denied it was even a player in hostilities and pro-Russia rebels outright rejected the move, saying no ceasefire was possible without Ukraine withdrawing its forces. The back-and-forth came as President Obama arrived in Estonia in a show of solidarity with NATO allies who fear they could be the next target of Russia's aggression. NATO is holding a summit in Wales tomorrow, with plans to approve a rapid-response team to counter the Russian threat.

In a brief statement, Poroshenko's office said today that he and Putin were in agreement on a ceasefire: a "mutual understanding was reached regarding the steps that will contribute to the establishment of peace." Poroshenko's office first said there was an "agreement on a permanent ceasefire," but later revised its statement to say an "agreement on a ceasefire regime." The changes—which appeared in Ukrainian, Russian, and English versions—seemed to indicate the two leaders agreed on the conditions necessary for a ceasefire, not that one would imminently be implemented.

Putin is playing his global expansion cards close to his vest. He is seeking to lie, cheat, steal, force, his way back to having a new Soviet Union.

bikpet

Sep 3, 2014 1:09 PM CDT

Poroshenko agreed a unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal of forces then had his mind changed for him. As many suspected, he's not in charge of his own house. At least Mr.Putin is trying to achieve a cessation of the fighting, whilst others are happy to ramp up the rhetoric of war.